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All Saints parish church Origins There seems to have been a church here since Anglo-Saxon times as half an Anglo-Saxon grave slab has been incorporated into the south wall. The early churches were probably built of timber with thatched roofs. Nothing apart from from the grave slab appears to have survived from before the thirteenth century.   Half of an Anglo-Saxon tomb cover. Medieval Most of the visible parts of All Saints church date from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, or from extensive restorations in 1852 and 1870. The architectural designs span Early English and Perpendicular Gothic styles. Construction uses both ironstone and limestone. External details of interest include a medieval door on the south side of the chancel and a blocked north door.   The south elevation.   A humorous hoodstop for one of the south windows depicts a head that seems to have been pushed out of place by the adjacent buttress.   The mid-fourteenth century octagonal font includes splendid carving. The interlaced vine branches are inhabited by no less than twenty faces. Inside the hollowed-out shaft is a monkey on a chain. Fettered monkeys traditionally symbolize humans entrapped by earthly and sensual desires. More about monkeys in art. The Reformation Until 1522 the dedication was to All Hallows. The change to All Saints is consistent with the Protestant Reformation. During the 1560s the Reformation really took effect in Barrowby. Although there is no record, very likely statues of saints were removed or decapitated and any wall paintings defaced in the 1530s or 1540s. The 'mass book' and other liturgical books were cut to pieces in 1560. The rood screen and loft were seemingly removed in 1561. While the screen was safely stored the loft was sawn up to make seats in 1564. In 1565 the churchwarden's accounts record the sale of a cross, candlestick and a pair of censers. These were broken up and melted down. The following year a pair of handbells was sold, probably also for their metal content. (Cryer 1979 p14)   The chancel screen incorporates most of the original medieval rood screen. Only the centre section is late nineteenth century. The bells The oldest bell was cast by Robert Quernbie and Henry Oldfield in the late fifteenth century. The next-oldest has a dedication dated 1712. Three more are dated 1774. A sixth was cast by John Taylor of Loughborough in 1897. Source: Cryer 1979 p31. Nineteenth and twentieth centuries Like a great many parish churches the length and breadth of England, parish churches fell into disrepair during the seventeenth century. By the 1820s radicial restorations were needed. And radical they would be – in all senses – as this was the start of the Oxford Movement and the Cambridge Camden Society. Architectural historians refer to the 'Gothic Revival'. By the 1850s this initially radical style had become what everyone expected their parish church to look like. For more information about the early stages of the Gothic Revival see this YouTube video about the innovative work of A.W.N. Pugin at Wymeswold in Leicestershire in the 1830s. There were substantial restorations in 1854 and 1889 (when the south aisle was re-roofed). An organ chamber and vestry were added in 1870. Full details of the architectural history are included in the Listed buildings description.   The east window. The stained glass windows were installed successively in ?1884, 1898, 1904, 1913, 1935, 1937 and 1956. What appear to be fragments of medieval glass survive in one window in the north aisle. Sadly some or all the windows were damaged by the blast from a German bomb during the Second World War and needed to be restored.   The reredos was installed in 1920. It was donated by Lady Mostyn. Mary and the infant Jesus are in the centre with (left to right) St Augustine, St George, St Michael and St Hugh.   The Grade II listed lych gate and railing, dating from about 1891, was paid for by the Reverend G.E. Welby. Gravestones       Two of the Charnwood slate gravestones. Many of the tombs and gravestones on the south side of the church have been listed (see more information about the church and memorials). I have written a separate article about the eighteenth century Charnwood slate memorials. Clergy and clerks L.R. Cryer compiled a comprehensive list of the names of clergy and parish clerks (Cryer 1979 p50–2). More information about the church and memorials Lincolnshire Heritage Environment Records Wikipedia (N.B. multipe errors!) Rev Thomas Hurst Place of worship As well as being of great architectural and historical interest, for all the centuries there has been a church on this site there has been Christian worship. For details of services, pastoral assistance, social events and bellringing visit All Saints web pages. If you think I've got something wrong – or can add additional information or photographs – then please email me:– bobtrubs@indigogroup.co.uk. Back to top of this page   This website does not gather or store any visitor information. Copyright Bob Trubshaw 2021–2022 No unauthorised copying or reproduction except if all following conditions apply: a: Copy is complete (including this copyright statement). b: No changes are made. c: No charge is made. www.hoap.co.uk/barrowby

what's new? Articles about Barrowby Barrowby's location and geology summary of prehistoric Barrowby summary of Roman Barrowby Anglo-Saxons summary of Anglo-Saxon Barrowby place-names Winnibriggs and Threo Domesday Book eleventh century water mills Kesteven moot site Medieval summary of medieval Barrowby origins of All Saints church moated sites the decline of Casthorpe Newbo Abbey Barrowby's Rectory the Conduit to Grantham Sewstern Lane or The Drift Seventeenth and eighteenth centuries summary of early modern Barrowby Dr Thomas Hurst Sir John Thorold John Manners, the Marquess of Granby Charnwood slates the toll bar Enclosure of Barrowby 1762 village green a.k.a. Stevens Gutter Grantham Canal Nineteenth century summary of nineteenth century Barrowby restoration of the parish church schools Methodist chapels Reading Room windmills pinfold Richard Hornsby nineteenth and twentieth century population Twentieth century summary of twentieth century Barrowby ironstone quarrying two World Wars Memorial Hall Barrowby's Listed buildings Barrowby's modern housing guided walks in and around Barrowby there's more could be said... bibliography index of surnames in Cryer 1979 Articles and web links for nearby places rare seventeenth fonts at Muston, Bottesford and Orston from Project Gargoyle Newsletter 2020 Ironstone quarries of Leicestershire YouTube video Wyville's wells Harston's Anglo-Saxon carvings Bottesford's effigies Grantham Canal Society The Grantham Canal All you need to know – and more – from Wikipedia Croxton Kerrial manor house excavations photos and brief details from Leicester Mercury. By 2021 the remains had been consolidated and there are annual open days. Grantham Archaeology Group Bottesford History Group Grantham Civic Society Grantham Museum Heritage Lincolnshire